Ford Ranger MPG & running costs

If you run your own business and need large, servile transportation, you dismiss the Ford Ranger at your cost. The Light Commercial Vehicle classification and low benefit-in-kind company car tax means that even a 40 per cent tax payer could run one of these on fleet for less than many conventional cars.

Better still, because it’s a commercial vehicle, business owners can claim the VAT back. Before you rush to the phone, though, there’s fuel economy to consider – and the Ranger’s is pretty mediocre

Depreciation of the Ford Ranger and Mitsubishi L200 are evenly matched

Our testing suggests that the 3.2-litre diesel would typically return 28mpg, which is low enough to test your mental arithmetic. Here is where the more economical 2.2-litre diesel Rangers could be a wise option, if you can forego the performance of the larger engine.

The bottom line? If you’re comparing it with anything smaller or cheaper than, say, a CR-V, the numbers probably won’t add up, and the higher your annual mileage, the less ‘probable’ that situation becomes. Assuming you pay for your own fuel, of course.

A private buyer would definitely need a use for the Ranger’s huge towing and carrying capacity in order to make a case to own one – but plenty will.

Ford expects to shift 5000 of these in the UK every year, once the supply chain problems that have affected early cars are solved. That makes the Ranger more popular than the Focus ST on these shores.